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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from, 

Microsoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/climateofnewmexiOOchicrich 


THE  CLIMATE 


OF 


NEW  MEXICO 


Las  Vegas  Hot  Springs 


PRESENTED  BT  THE  MANAGEMENT 


CHICAGO: 

Poole  Bros..  Printers. 

188?. 


pao3 


frcrofi  Library 


Las  Vegas  Hot  Springs, 

New   Mexico. 


It  has  been  a  general  observation  among  the  thousands 
of  tourists  and  invalids  that  have  sojourned  and  received 
treatment  at  the  above  named  resort  why  the  merits  of 
the  climate  and  healing  properties  of  the  thermal  springs 
were  not  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  medical  profession 
and  invalids  throughout  the  United  States. 

In  response  to  the  above  query,  the  following  facts  and 
data  are  respectfully  submitted: 

New  Mexico  is  situated  in  latitude  31  degrees,  21 
minutes  and  37  degrees  north;  longitude,  103  degrees  and 
109  degrees  west.  It  contains  an  area  of  121,201  square 
miles.  Large  spurs,  branching  out  from  the  Rocky 
mountains,  traverse  the  territory  from  north  to  south, 
reaching  in  many  instances  an  elevation  of  from  10,000 
to  12,000  feet.  Immense  prairies,  between  these  spurs, 
form  the  principal  features  of  New  Mexican  topography. 

Las  Vegas  is  in  35  degrees  40  minutes  north  latitude; 
28  degrees  15  minutes  west  from  Washington. 

The  Las  Vegas  Hot  Springs  (named  after  the  town) 
are  situated  six  miles  from  the  city  of  Las  Vegas  (The 
Meadows),  and  is  connected  by  a  branch  of  the  Atchi- 
son, Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  Railroad.  The  Springs 
are  beautifully  located  at  the  entrance  to  the  Gallinas 
Canon,  and  are  so  nestled  among  the  foot-hills  that  violent 
wind  and  dust  storms  are  escaped.  The  altitude  of  the 
Springs  is  6,700  above  sea-level. 


6  LAS    VEGAS    HOT    SPRINGS. 

In  seeking  out  a  climate  for  pulmonary  and  respiratory 
diseases  the  following  is  imperative: 

A .  Dryness. 

B.  A  warm  atmosphere  with  a  fair  equability  of  tern 
perature. 

C.  Shelter  from  wind  and  dust  storms. 

D.  Continuous  sunshine  or  an  excess  of  clear  over 
cloudy  days. 

In  New  Mexico  the  average  humidity  is  38  per  cent., 
while  in  the  following  States  and  localities  it  is  as  follows: 
New  England  States,  73  per  cent.;  Middle  Atlantic  States, 
74  per  cent.;  South  Atlantic  States,  79  per  cent.;  Gulf 
States,  82  per  cent. ;  Lower  Lake  Region,  70  per  cent. ; 
Ohio  Valley,  Tennessee  and  the  Northwest,  73  per  cent.; 
Lower  Mississippi  Valley,  58  per  cent. ;  Denver,  Colorado, 
42  per  cent. 

The  accompanying  "statement"  is  kindly  given  by  the 
Signal  Service  Bureau.  This  report  was  taken  at  Santa 
Fe,  406  feet  higher  than  the  Springs,  and  the  difference 
in  altitude  should  be  considered. 

Statement  showing  the  monthly,  annual,  mean  monthly  and 
mean  annual  temperature;  also  the  maximum  and  minimum 
temperatures  and  number  of  clear,  fair  and  cloudy  days,  from  the 
commencement  of  observations  to  June  1883,  at  Santa  Fe,  New 
Mexico.  Compiled  from  the  records  on  file  at  the  office  of  the 
Chief  Signal  Officer,  U.  S.  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 

SIGNAL    OFFICE, 

[seal.]  War  Department, 

Washington,  D.  C. 
October  ijt/i,  1883. 


las  vegas  hot  springs. 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 

(Elevation  of  station  above  mean  sea-level,  7,106  feet.) 
MEAN  MONTHLY  TEMPERATURES. 

COMPUTED     FROM    THE    THREE    TELEGRAPHIC     OBSERVATIONS. 


1873- 
1874. 
I875- 
1876. 

iln- 
1878. 

1870. 

18S0. 

1881. 

1882. 


JAN. 


26.9 
28.7 

3i-7 
28.1 
29.2 
32.0 
22.1 
29.2 
29.2 
23-7 
29.3 
26.8 


FEB.     MAR.    APRIL    MAY     JUNE    JULY     AUG.      SEPT.     OCT.      NOV. 


33-7 
31-3 
27.9 
31.2 

33-0 
33-8 
30 -4 
37 -o 
24.2 
33-6 
3*5 
36.1 


37-7 

36.0 
33-4 
36.4 
44-3 
40.1 

47-5 
32.4 
36.7 
41.4 
43-9 


58.2 

%7 
56. 3 
58. 1 
54-4 
52.5 
55-2 
60.0 
56.1 
57-2 
53-6 
54-6 


65.8 
65.3 
67.6 

67.5 
63  9 
64.4 
62.2 
65.2 
65.4 
68.6 
63.6 


66.7 
70.0 

69.5 
64.0 

67.3 
66.5 
70-3 
70.0 


67.9 


66.7 
64  3 
67.6 
65.3 

8:? 

68.2 
68.0 
64.5 

64.8 


59-6 
60.0 
58.3 
57-6 
59.o 
60.0 
58.0 
62.5 
56.8 
58.8 
58.5 


48.7 
49-7 
51.0 

52.8 
48.3 
47.1 
5o.9 
49-8 

*H 
49.8 

50.1 


33-3 

42.7 

3i-Z 

38.8 

36.3 
34.3 
39.2 
36.9 
29.6 
33.6 

39-8 


DEC. 


33 -o 

33.0 
295 
29.7 

32.9 
29.1 

29.3 

26.4 

28.1 
29.4 


32.2 


47-9 
48.6 
48.0 
48.0 
47.5 
47-6 
47-5 
50.2 

45-4 


means. .    28.1     32.1  :  39.5  1  45.4  !  55.9  i  65.4  i  68.o     65.9     59.0     49.4     3^-7  I  302 
♦Station  closed  June  15,  1SS3. 


Note. — The  daily  means  are  obtained  bv  dividing1  the  sum  of  the  readings  at  the  three 

dv  dividing-  the  sum  of  the 

[Form  No.  149  B.] 


telegraphic  observations  by  three;    the  monthly  means  t»y  dividing  the  sum  of  the  daily  means 
by  the  number  of  davs  in  the  month. 

[SEAL.] 


Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 

(Elevation  of  station  above  mean  sea-level,  7,106  feet.) 
MAXIMUM   TEMPERATURE. 


1870. . 
1S71.. 
1872.. 
1873.. 
1874.. 

1875.- 
1S76.. 

'Pi- 
1878.. 

1879.. 

1880.. 

1881. 

1882.. 

1883.. 


JAN.       FEB.      MAR.    APR.     MAY.      JUN.    JULY.     AUG.      SEP.        OCT.      NOV.       DEC. 


49 

S2 
56 

50 

55 

4< 
76 

55 

49    o 

59-8 
53 


48 

42 
56 

5l 
5° 

53 

75 

& 

8.6 


60 

62 
68 
60 

82 
% 
g-3 


89 


90 
90 

% 

92 
90.2 


86 


87 
90. 5 
95-5 


93-7 
90 


88 
S9 

i9 

89 
97 
94 

£3 

83.5 

90 


82. s 

3 

I-5 

80 
81 
80 


70 

U 

72 

g 
69 


60 
65 

J4 

62.5 

61 

it 


r> 


[seal.] 

[Form  No.  149  B.] 

Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 

(Elevation  of  station  above  mean  sea-level,  7,106  feet.) 
MINIMUM   TEMPERATURE. 


JAN.        FEB.      MAR.    APR.      MAY.     JUN.     JULY.    AUG.      SEP.        OCT.    NOV.       DEC 


1870. 
I87I. 
1872. 
1873. 
1874. 

Z: 

lllk 

III9: 
1881. 
1&82. 


Zero. 

11 

—  2 

2 

12 
Zero. 

5 

1 

—  2 

2 
13 
19 
10 

—  2 

-3 

—  2 

1.8 

—  3 
_  2 

"•3 

—13 

6 

[seal.] 


20 

14 
5 
5 
iS 
17 

J5 

Zero. 

8 

9 
23.6 


^9 


46 

47 

52 

4S 
50 
50 

50 

n 
4* 

53 
49.5 


37 

is 

39 

4-^ 
27 
35 

37 


■9 

iS 
-4 

20 
18 
26 
16 
27 
24-5 


25 
10 
4 
12 

i5 
— 11 
12 
6-5 


10 
10 
6 

4 
8 

2 
Zero. 
-13 
-  3 


[Form  No.  149  B.] 


LAS    VEGAS    HOT    SPRINGS. 


Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 


NUMBER  OF  CLEAR,  FAIR  AND 
CLOUDY  DAYS. 


—Clear. 
—Fair. 
—Cloudy. 


YEAR. 

JAN. 

FEB. 

MAR. 

APR. 

MAY. 

JUNE. 

JULY. 

AUG. 

SEP. 

OCT. 

NOV. 

DEC. 

For  the 
Tear. 

JS70 

17 
IO 

4 

1S71 

IS72 

16 
12 

3 

»3 

13 

3 

IO 

17 

4 

is 

4 

13 

IS 

3 

12 
17 

7 
H 
10 

2 
21 
8 

21 

7 
9 

17 
12 
2 

iS 
1 

iS 
13 
3 

167 
44 

1S73 

17 

II 
3 

0 
14 

5 

iS 
12 

1 

9 

17 
4 

10 
20 

8    ;  6 
IS  1  23 

7!   2 

5 
H 
12 

16 
13 

21 

9 

19 
9 
2 

13 
12 
6 

% 

45 

1S74 

8 

13 

10 

6 
,48 

9 
13 
9 

S 
I96 

6 
20 

s 

iS   l< 
*,  J  I96 

0 

26 
5 

16 

12 
2 

20 
8 
3 

13 

12 

S 

JS 
10 
6 

119 
1S0 
66 

lS7S 

10 
"38 

9 

16 
12 
3 

11 
16 
3 

7 
1? 

S 

«4 

J3 
3 

3 

17 

3 

21 

7 

7 
'76 

24 

7 
0 

12 
13 

s 

22 

8 

138 
169 
53 

1S76 

12 

5 

18 

10 

I 

9 
17 

17 

12 
17 

u 
16 

7 

21 

3 

7 
19 

7 
19 

12 

17 

14 

10 

18 

9 

138 
1S6 

1877 

9 

6. 

98 

13 

16 

22 

H 

8 
'76 

10 

H 

iS  1  is 

9  |  iS 

7    0 

H6 

162 
S3 

1878 

20 

9 
2 

8 

5 

8 

11 

18 

17 
12 

16 

13 

20 
O 

16 
4 

18   i  21 
11  !  10 

s 
13 

9 

II 

iS 
5 

160 
169 
136 

IS7) 

6 

9i6 
3 

•3 

'36 

13 

9 

22 
0 

17 

10 

22 

9 

0 

21 
4 

5 

13 
10 

8 

180 
152 
33 

1SS0 

19 
12 
0 

18 
6 

5 

11 
16 
4 

iS 
9 
3 

25 

5 

1 

«3 

13 

4 

S*  I7 
16    21 

10 1    3 

10 
17 
3 

'98 
4 

21 
6 
3 

iS 

s 

5 

184 
157 
45 

18S1 

19 
10 
2 

'3 
12 

3 

16 

12 
3 

12 
12 
6 

8 
H 
9 

iS 
11 

1 

7 
13 
11 

6 
iS 

7 

iS 
9 
3 

iS 
5 

12 
16 
2 

iSSi 

'78 
6 

'5 
2 

16 
78 

H 
»3 

3 

16 
14 

1 

12 
H 
4 

9 
20 
2 

10 

% 

18 
11 

25 

5 

16 
11 
3 

19 
10 
2 

187 
139 
39 

16 
11 
4 

7 

i7 
4 

IO 
16 

s 

12 
13 
S 

'78 
6 

18S3 

[seal.] 


LAS    VEGAS    HOT    SPRINGS.  9 

The  average  temperature,  estimated  by  years,  excels 
in  mildness  many  sections  of  the  country.  As  a  guide  to 
a  very  important  factor  in  health,  clothing,  it  is  advisable 
to  state  that  residents  of  New  Mexico  wear  the  same 
texture  of  clothing  the  year  round;  that  is,  regular 
winter  clothing  is  as  necessary  in  July  as  in  January. 
There  is  no  "summer  solstice"  upon  this  table-land; 
blankets  upon  your  bed  are  as  requisite  in  August  as  in 
the  middle  of  winter.  The  presence  of  winter  is  only 
respected  by  the  addition  of  an  extra  outer  garment. 

The  Springs. 

These  are  forty  in  number  and  are  situated  at  the  base 
of  a  foot-hill  that  slopes  down  into  the  Rio  Gallinas.  In 
their  thermal  properties  they  are  divided  into  two  classes : 
one  including  springs  of  a  temperature  from  120  degrees 
F.  to  140  degrees  F.;  the  other  springs  varying  from  75 
degrees  to  100  degrees  F.  There  are  thirty  of  the 
former  and  ten  of  the  latter.  *3tttlCrnfr 

Twenty-five  of  the  principal  springs  have  been  e^Si- 
vated,  so  as  to  form  reservoirs,  and  have  been  walled  and 
covered  with  the  native  red  sandstone.  Many  of  the  springs 
are  not  at  present  required  for  the  bath-house  supply.  A 
single  spring,  No.  6,  furnishing,  alone,  30,000  gallons  of 
water  daily,  at  a  temperature  of  140  degrees  F. 

The  warm  springs  flow  from  these  basins  or  reservoirs 
direct  into  the  bath-houses,  while  the  cooler  ones  run  into 
large  tanks  upon  the  hillside,  and  are  thence  conducted 
into  the  bath-houses  to  furnish  cold  water  as  required. 

The  skin  after  taking  a  bath  in  these  waters  has  a  soft 
velvety  feeling  and  a  freshness  of  aroma  savoring  of  the 
cosmetic. 


IO 


LAS    VEGAS    HOT    SPRINGS. 


The  following  analysis  is  the  most  recent.  The  same 
party  is  renewing  and  extending  his  chemical  researches 
and  in  a  few  months  will  add  greatly  to  present  report : 

ANALYSIS  OF  WATER    FROM  MINERAL  AND  HOI 
SPRINGS,  LAS  VEGAS,  N.  M. 

Water  Collected  and  Temperatures  Taken  January,  13,  1882. 


No.  of  Spring. 

Temper- 
atures, 
Fahr. 

Parts  of  Solid  Constituents  Contained  in 
100,000  Parts  of  Water. 

Sodium    Sodium 
Chloride!  Sulphate 

Sodium 

Carbon - 

;ite. 

Calcium 
Carbon- 
ate. 

Silicic 
Acid. 

Total 

Solid 

Residue. 

2 

^5- 5 
120 
92 
140 
140 
140 

7i 
114 
u7 
124 
112 
136 

E 
112. 5 

96 

27.36         16.82 

27-38    1     i5-72 
23.41     !     14.62 
2S.54     |     16.96 
27.86         16.86 

5.02 
3-04 
2-55 
2.10 
3-30 
1.24 
2.01 
J-54 
3.20 
1-52 
3- H 
1.50 
1.03 
1. 00 
2.01 
.98 
1.08 

4  03 
2.01 
4.02 
3-03 
2.00 
1.05 
3.02 
2.01 
2.05 
1. is 
5.26 
3.01 
1.24 
1.16 
1.05 
1.06 
1. 00 

9-97 
4.41 
7.20 
S.S8 
6.03 
6.60 
6.03 

5-45 
6. 10 
6.80 
6.16 
6.?93 

7.26 
5-?33 

65.53 
54.06 

58.33 
57-90 
56.20 

55-63 
5.80 
54.60 
56.40 
54.83 
56.46 
57.00 
55-40 
55-90 
.    57-73 

56.16 

3 

4 

5 

6 

QV, 

28.02 
28.63 
27.86 
27.70 
26.04 
26.03 
28.03 
28. 85 
27.36 
27.36 
27.86 
26.63 

10.80 

15-15 
17.S6 
15-70 
17.72 
18.00 
18.64 
19.86 
17.22 
17-54 

?/2  :;;.;.... 

8  and  9 

10 

11  with  10  and    12 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17...                  

18.   .                 

19* 

22  with  20 

106 

86 

75 
123 

26.87 
28.19 
27.36 
28. 19 
33 -oi 

"•54 
14.10 
17-32 
12.50 
18.14 

1.23 
1.16 

«.«5 

2.33 
11.20 

1. 10 

1.0S 
3-oi 

38- 52 

6.20 

? 

6.63 

6.20 
1.20 

54-56 
56.95 
57.00 

21 

22 

23 

Cold  Sulphur  f 

102.06 

*  Spring  overflowed  at  time  of  collecting  water,    f  Sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas. 

The  quantity  of  Magnesium  Carbonate  in  most  of  these  waters  is  very 
small,  with  indications  of  a  small  quantity  of  Potassium  and  traces  of  Lithium. 
Carbonic  Acid  is  probably  in  the  bubbles  arising  from  most  of  these  springs. 

J.  T.  LOVEWELL, 

Prof,  of  Chemistry,  Washburn  College,  Topeka,  Kan. 

What  diseases  are  cured  or  benefited  by  these  waters 
and  mud  baths? 

Acute  and  Chronic  Rheumatism,  Gout,  Blood  Poi- 
sons, Skin  Diseases  of  all  classes,  Glandular  and  Scrofula 
Diseases,  General  Physical  Debility,  Mental  Exhaustion, 
Spinal  Troubles,  Nervous  Affections  of  all  kinds,  Catarrh, 
Dyspepsia,  Hepatic  Troubles,  Injuries  to  Joints  and 
Bones  of  long  standing,  Ulcers,  Female  Weaknesses, 
Asthma,  Hay  Fever.  Syphilis,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 


T.AS    VEGAS    HOT    SPRINGS.  II 

Bath- Houses. 

There  are  two  bath-houses — one  for  water  treatment 
and  the  other  exclusively  for  mud  baths. 

The  main  bath-house  is  built  of  the  native  red  sand- 
stone, is  two  stories  high  and  two  hundred  feet  long  by 
forty-two  feet  wide. 

The  upper  story  is  occupied  by  offices — physicians, 
post-office,  museum  and  drug  store,  while  the  lower 
story  is  assigned  for  bath-rooms,  both  for  males  and 
females.  The  building  is  a  very  handsome  one  and  is 
complete  in  all  its  appointments.  It  is  located  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Rio  Gallinas  river,  opposite  the  hotels 
and  is  approached  by  three  bridges.  The  mud  bath 
house  is  in  the  rear  of  the  main  building  and  is  built  of 
wood.  It  is  intended  to  be  replaced  by  one  of  more 
pretension  and  greater  capacity  in  the  near  future.  The 
bath-house  attendants,  male  and  female,  are  selected  from 
similar  institutions  throughout  the  country  and  are 
experts  in  their  line.  The  entire  capacity  of  both  bath- 
houses is  1,000  baths  per  day,  giving  every  variety  of 
bath. 

The  style  of  baths  and  prices  for  same  including 
attendance,  towels,  etc.,  are  as  follows: 

Shampoo  baths,        - 

Electric  baths,      - 

Medicated  baths,      ---.'- 

Vapor  baths,  -         - 

Vapor  and  Pack  baths, 

Tub  baths,  -'-■-." 

Tub  and  Pack  baths, 

Mud  baths,  singly, 

Three  for  $5.00;  five  for  $S.oo;  seven  for  $10.00;  ten  for  $12.50. 

Special  treatment,  Massage,      -  -  -  1.00 

Massage,  extra,  at  time  of  taking  any  kind  of  bath,     .50 

Bathing  Hours, 6  a.  m.  to    6  p.m. 

On  Saturdays,  Bathing  Hours,  -  6  a.  m.  to  10  p.  nu 


each, 

$I.OO 

u 

I. OO 

(( 

I. OO 

u 

•75 

u 

1.00 

a 

•5° 

a 

•75 

- 

3.00 

12  LAS    VEGAS    HOT    SPRINGS. 

Except  tub  baths,  which  are  given  from  90  degrees 
to  100  degrees  F.,  all  others  should  be  prescribed  by  a 
licensed  physician. 

Separate  apartments,  with  complete  bathing  apparatus, 
are  provided  for  patients  afflicted  with  loathsome  and 
contagious  diseases. 

The  mud  baths  are  a  peculiar  feature  of  these  springs 
and  their  prominence  in  the  treatment  of  diseases 
deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice.  These  mud  baths 
are  similar  to  the  celebrated  "  peat  baths"  at  Carlsbad, 
Bohemia. 

The  percolation  of  chemical  water  for  centuries 
through  the  earth  surrounding  the  springs  has  produced 
this  peat  or  mud.  Viewed  under  the  microscope,  it 
appears  gelatinous,  its  earthly  properties  having  under- 
gone a  change. 

The  baths  are  prepared  as  follows:  The  mud  is  first 
freed  from  all  foreign  substances,  such  as  sticks,  stones, 
etc.  Each  tub  is  then  filled  half  full  of  mud  and  mixed 
up  with  warm  spring  water  to  the  consistency  of  thin 
honey.  At  the  hour  for  bathing,  the  bath  is  warmed  up 
by  steam  to  the  temperature  ordered  by  the  physician. 
Every  five  days  fresh  mud  is  renewed. 

A  patient  takes  one  bath  a  day,  generally — from 
fifteen  minutes  to  one  hour.  Upon  leaving  the  tub 
the  patient  walks,  or  is  carried,  under  the  graduated 
douche,  and  is  thoroughly  hosed  off,  then  rubbed  down 
clean  and  dry,  and  placed  on  a  couch  in  the  "  resting 
room  "  for  thirty  minutes  or  longer. 

This  bath  acts  like  a  huge  poultice,  extracting,  by  free 
diaphoresis  or  sweating,  diseases  that  have  baffled  the 
skill  of  all  schools  of  medicine  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
In  many  cases  the  "  pack  V  and  a  massage  "  are  ordered 
after  mud  baths  as  a  reinforcer. 


LAS    VEGAS    HOT    SPRINGS.  13. 

Strange  as  it  may  seem  to  the  reader,  these  mud  baths 
are  immensely  popular,  and  the  most  fastidious  of  either 
sex  confess  to  their  luxury  and  wonderful  curative  effects. 

One  hundred  thousand  baths  have  been  given  at  these 
springs  since  their  purchase  by  the  Atchison,  Topeka 
&  Santa  Fe  R.  R.  Company  to  the  date  of  this  pub- 
lication. 

Hotels,  Etc. 

At  the  Springs  there  are  two  hotels.  "The  Hot  Springs 
Hotel,"  erected  in  1879.  It  is  built  of  the  native  red 
sandstone,  is  three  stories  high,  and  has  rooming  capacity 
for  one  hundred  (100)  guests.  It  has  lately  been  refur- 
nished and  heated  by  steam,  and  is  one  of  the  most  com- 
fortable homelike  houses  to  be  found  in  the  west. 

The  season  of  1885  is  opened  by  the  occupancy  of 
the  new  Las  Vegas  Hot  Springs  Hotel.  This  splendid 
structure  takes  the  place  of  the  "Montezuma,"  which  was 
unfortunately  burned  in  January,  1884.  It  has  not  the 
same  location,  but  has  been  placed  at  a  considerable  ele- 
vation on  the  side  of  the  mountain,  so  as  to  command 
one  of  the  most  pleasing  views  of  the  Rocky  Mountain 
region,  including  cliff,  canyon,  mountain,  and,  in  strong 
contrast,  the  wide  green  meadows  called  "Las  Vegas." 

The  new  hotel  is,  unlike  the  former,  constructed  of 
solid  stone,  and  is,  as  nearly  as  it  is  possible  to  make  any 
building,  fire-proof.  It  is  the  result  of  a  large  experience 
in  the  proper  plan  and  construction  of  a  watering-place 
hotel,  and  is  undoubtedly  the  most  commodious,  conven- 
ient and  elegant  building  of  its  kind  in  the  whole  range 
of  western  watering-places.  It  is  almost  impossible  to 
say  too  much  in  regard  to  the  care  and  prevision  adopted 
to  guard  against  the  recurrence  of  the  misfortune  which 
destroyed  the  former  hotel.     This  is   constructed  as  it 


H 


LAS    VEGAS    HOT    SPRINGS. 


would  be  in  the  midst  of  a  large  city,  so  far  as  material, 
situation  in  regard  to  inflammable  structures,  and  anti-fire 
appliances  are  concerned.  Probably  the  best  guaranty 
possible  is  the  fact  that  the  Company  do  not  especially 
desire  to  build  a  third  mammoth  hotel.  The  novelty  of 
that  feature  has  worn  off. 

There  are  in  this  hotel  more  than  three  hundred  rooms, 
furnished  in  the  finest  style  of  which  modern  art  is  capa- 
ble, and,  while  varying  in  style  and  decoration,  each  one 
is  about  as  good  as  another.  There  are  ladies'  and  gen- 
tlemen's reception  rooms,  furnished  elaborately  in  hard 
woods  and  tapestry,  and  general  parlors  on  every  floor. 
Carpets  are  made  after  special  and  varying  designs,  and 
the  window  hangings  are  superb  specimens  of  decorative 
art.  In  the  proper  locations  are  sewing  rooms  for  the 
feminine  population  of  the  building;  also  private  billiard 
and  reading  rooms  for  their  especial  use. 

In  the  lower  regions  provision  has  been  amply  made 
for  the  amusement  of  the  hardier  sex.  There  are  billiard 
and  bowling  rooms,  finished  in  hard  woods  and  furnished 
with  every  convenience.  A  round  tower  is  an  architect- 
ural feature  of  one  angle  of  the  structure,  from  whose 
various  stories  and  windows  views  may  be  had  which 
include  almost  every  feature  of  nature.  All  around  the 
front  and  sides  of  the  building  extend  wide  balconies, 
furnished  with  every  variety  of  easy-chair  that  has  so  far 
been  invented  by  Indolence  to  delight  the  invalid  or  rest 
the  mountain  climber. 

In  one  word,  the  end  and  object  of  a  mountain  resort 
has  been  attained  in  this  structure  and  its  surroundings. 
Popular  from  its  original  opening  three  years  ago,  it 
seems  now,  with  its  new  and  fresh  appliances  for  the 
comfort,  health  and  pleasure  of  its  guests,  to  have  entered 
upon  a  new  career  of  popularity  and  prosperity. 


LAS    VEGAS    HOT    SPRINGS.         '  1 5 

There  are  several  attractions  upon  the  grounds  in  con- 
nection with  the  hotels — museum  of  antiquities,  aviary, 
zoological  collections,  etc.,  a  large  green-house  well  filled 
with  flora  and  variegated  plants. 

The  hotels  at  the  springs  are  in  postal,  telephone  and 
telegraphic  connection  with  the  outside  world. 

The  rates  at  both  houses  are  very  moderate,  the  price 
at  the  Montezuma  being  from  $3.00  to  $4.00  per  day 
and  $17.50  to  $24.50  per  week;  at  the  Hot  Springs 
Hotel,  $2.00  to  $3.00  per  day  and  $12.00  to  $17.50  per 
week.  There  are  several  cottages  upon  the  ground  that 
take  roomers  and  boarders. 

Four  trains  a  day  each  way  run  between  the  Springs 
and  city  of  Las  Vegas.  The  city  has  a  population  of 
8,000  souls. 

Routes  and  Rates. 

The  Springs  can  be  reached  by  many  lines  converging 
into  Kansas  City,  Atchison  and  El  Paso,  Texas. 

A  schedule  of  rates  from  points  below  are  as  follows: 

R'd  Trip 
1st  Class.         2d  Class.        Emigrant.  Good  for 

90  days. 

CHICAGO $43.85     $36.85     $ $52.00 

KANSAS  CITY..     31.35  27.75       24-°5       32-°° 

ATCHISON 31 .35  27.75        24.05       32.00 

EL  PASO,  Tex.,  to  ) 
HOT  SPRINGS    j22'75       

The  1st,  2d  and  emigrant  tickets  are  good  to  Las 
Vegas  only.  The  fare  from  Las  Vegas  to  Hot  Springs 
is  thirty  (30)  cents.  The  round-trip  tickets  are  good  for 
90  days  and  carry  one  direct  to  the  Hot  Springs  without 
any  additional  cost. 

The  cure  of  respiratory  diseases  by  residing  in  a  high, 
dry,  rarified  atmosphere,  such  as  is  offered  at  the  Las 
Vegas  Hot  Springs,  is  receiving  the  most  searching  inves- 
tigation by  the  members  of  the  medical  profession  at  large. 


l6  '         LAS    VEGAS    HOT    SPRINGS. 

The  climates  of  Florida  and  Southern  California  are 
too  damp  and  malarial;  too  enervating,  lacking  atmos- 
pherical tonicity. 

The  statistics  of  the  U.  S.  Army  confirm  the  fact  that 
New  Mexico  has  a  less  ratio  of  respiratory  diseases  than 
any  other  part  of  the  country,  the  ratio  being  1.3  per 
thousand,  while  in  other  sections  of  the  country  it  ranges 
from  2.3  to  6.9  per  thousand. 

The  climate  of  New  Mexico  is  continuously  fine.  The 
location  of  the  territory  so  far  inland  and  elevated,  there  is 
less  humidity  and  more  sunshine  than  in  lower  latitudes. 

Consumptives  in  the  first  stages  of  that  disease,  and 
invalids  afflicted  with  other  respiratory  troubles  ('acute  or 
chronic),  derive  immediate  benefit  from  the  dry,  stimulat- 
ing climate,  so  impregnated  with  ozone  and  electricity. 

The  climate  cure  is  not  alone  confined  to  American  prac- 
titioners, but  foreign  members  of  the  faculty  send  their 
patients  to  Davos  and  other  Alpine  winter  retreats.  If  there 
is  a  cure  for  pulmonary, etc., complaints, that  medical  mecca 
is  to  be  found  in  the  high,  dry  climate  of  New  Mexico,  and 
at  the  placid  retreat  of  the  Las  Vegas  Hot  Springs. 

While  the  country  in  the  northwest,  middle  and  east- 
ern States  is  ice-bound  and  frozen,  the  residents  of  New 
Mexico  are  basking  in  genial  sunshine.  All  outdoor  labor 
is  carried  on  the  entire  year,  with  but  few  days  excepted. 

New  Mexico,  apart  from  being  a  great  sanitarium  in 
its  climate  and  thermal  springs,  offers  inducements  to 
those  afflicted  with  ill  health  to  move  there  and  invest  in 
its  various  enterprises — cattle,  sheep  ranches,  mines,  mills 
and  manufactories. 

This  concise  and  statistical  record  is  sufficient  to  con- 
vince the  afflicted  of  all  kinds  that  the  climate  of  the 
Las  Vegas  Hot  Springs  is  their  only  recourse  and  refuge 
to  preserve  and  perpetuate  health. 


^■j>r''; 


